In response to a request by the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE), GRIPS had a two-day training program on April 7 and 8, 2011 for the Election Visit Program under the auspices of the Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) on the occasion of the Tokyo gubernatorial election. It is a part of the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS) Program.

The 22-member delegation to GRIPS, accompanied by JICE staff members, consisted of directors and staff from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Election Commission and other ministries of ASEAN and East Asian countries. They attended two lectures given by Vice-President Prof. Horie titled “The Japanese Government in Brief-National Government, Local Government and Intergovernmental Relations” and a lecture by Prof. Masuyama titled “Electoral Systems and Japan’s Party Politics.” Afterwards, the delegation visited polling places for the gubernatorial election as well as the National Diet, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and other spots of political importance.

Vice-President Prof. Horie

Prof. Masuyama